Gage for the spacing apart of concrete building-blocks.



G. MOL- MADID UX. GAGE FOR THE SPAGING APART or CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCKS.

' APPLICATION FILED MA];- 30, 1908.

91 5,982, Patented Mar. 23, 19 0 9,

IN VEN TOR Cwvsan many m nnux.

A TTORNE v THE NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON, n. c-

OLAWSON MoIiAIN MADDUX, OF MUNOIE, INDIANA.

GAG-E FOR THE SPACING APART OF CONCRETE BUILDING-BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March so, 1908.

Patented March 23, 1909.

Serial No. 424,086.

1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAwsoN McLAiN MADDUX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State-of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Gage for the Spacing Apart of Concrete Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to devices for facilitating the true alinement of walls and similar structures wherein the well known hollow concrete building blocks are used. In the constructing of structures composed of these building-blocks, it is essential that a filling of mortar or liquid cement. be placed between the meeting ends of the blocks', as well as that which lies between the meeting horizontal surfaces of the blocks. In the construction of such a wall great skill is necessary to be exerted by the artisan in order to obtain such placement of the buildingblocks that the space between the blocks will be uniform and accurate.

The objects of this invention is to provide a device for the gaging or spacing apart of said building-blocks which will be of simple and economical construction, and which will be easy of manipulation. These objects are accomplished by the newly devised and constructed implement described in this specification defined in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is an end view of my invention.- Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a standard hollow concrete building-block showing my newly invented gage in position thereon.

The preferred form of construction of my invention is that shown in the drawings; the gage is composed of two oppositely disposed uprights 1 and 2, square in cross-section and of dimension the same as that of the space allowed in practice between the ends of the blocks for the reception of the mortar. These uprights at their tops are formed integrally with the stop-bar 3, and at their bottoms are connected together with the thin web 4 whereby they are retained parallel to each other and the distance apart equal to the width of the standard building-block. Removably secured to the outer faces of the uprights 1 and 2, by suitable screws are the guide-b ars 5 and 6 respectively, whichextend the length of the uprights. The edges of these guidebars each, form flanges at the rear edges of the uprights, the frontal edges of the guide-b ar 5 being flush with the frontal edge of the upright 1, and the frontal edgeof the guide-bar 6 being extended, whereby a flange is formed at the frontal edge of the upright 2. This flange constitutes a guide for the accurate and correct placement of the building-block with reference to the block to which the gage is applied, as will be hereinafter referred to. The stop-b ar extends rearwardly at substantially a right angle to the uprights and thence transversely and at its central portion has rigidly secured thereto thecurved leaf-spring? The suitable handle 8 isprovided, the function whereof is obvious. For securing removably to the gage, the guide-bars 5 and 6, I have used ordinary machine screws with heads countersunk. Thumb screws may be used if desired whereby the manipulation of the guide-bars may be somewhat facilitated.

To assist to the clear understanding of the proper mode of practice of my invention, reference will be had to Fig. 4. The initial building-block 9 is first disposed in true 0- sition on suitable mortar-bed provi ed therefor, then the gage is slipped into osition thereon, the guide-bars 5 and 6 ho ding the uprights in true position and the spring 7 retaining the gage in place. The next block 10, is then laid squarely on the mortar-bed provided therefor, its end being brought into proper position against the faces of the uprights, and its vertical lateral edge against the extended portion of the guide-bar 6. Then the gage is lifted out of the position shown, and slipped into position on the forward end of the building-block just placed. A succeeding building-block is brought into position, and the use of the gage is continued in the manner as just described.

My newly invented gage may be used from right to left, as readily and conveniently as from left to right, and it is for that purpose that the guide-bars are made removable. Thus in the practice of my invention much time is saved to the workman in laying up the building-blocks as the spacing thereof will be uniform and accurate, and moreover,

a workman or mechanic of only ordinary skill is enabled to accomplish the accurate spacing apart thereof.

at I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. An implement for gaging the space between hollow building-blocks while building a wall, which implement includes a pair of oppositely disposed members having a thickness the same as the desired space between the blocks, said members being rigidly retained by a transverse member secured thereto and disposed at an angle to rest on the top surface of the building-block, yieldable means connected to said transverse member and adapted to engage the interior face of the block to hold the said oppositely disposed members against the exterior face of the block, substantially as described.

2. An implement for gaging the space between hollow building-blocks while building a wall, which implement includes a pair of oppositely disposed flanged members having a thickness substantially the same as the desired space between the blocks, said members being rigidly retained by a transverse member secured thereto and disposed at an angle so as to rest on the top surface of the building block, yieldable means connected to said transverse member and adapted to engage the interior face of the block, to hold the said flanged members against the edges of the block, substantially as described.

plates removably secured thereon and said 1 members being rigidly retained by a transverse member secured thereto and disposed at an angle to rest on the top surface of the building block, a leaf spring rigidly secured to the said transverse member and having its free end bent in such curve that it will engage the interior face of the block, substantially as described.

4. An implement, for gaging the s pace be tween hollow building-blocks while uilding a wall, which implement consists of the oppositely disposed uprights 1 and 2 retained apart by the stop-bar 3 and the web 4, there being detachably secured to said uprights the guide-bars 5 and 6 a curved leafaring 7 and the handle 8 secured to said stop-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLA'WSON McLAIN MADDUX.

Vitnesses ELMER. E. BOTKIN, ETHEL L. LISTER. 

